Powder applicator for cosmetic use

ABSTRACT

A powder applicator includes a reservoir for powder and a porous membrane tensioned over the reservoir. A portion of the powder is stored in the vicinity of the membrane, in a very open synthetic foam pad between the reservoir and the membrane and communicating with the reservoir.

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 10/730,980filed Dec. 10, 2003, which claims priority of FR 02 15726 filed Dec. 12,2002 and FR 02 16719 filed Dec. 26, 2002, the entire contents of each ofwhich are incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a powder applicator for cosmetic use.

2. Description of the Prior Art

An object routinely referred to as a “powder applicator” canadvantageously be used to apply a cosmetic powder to the skin. This isknown in the art.

The patent application 2001-0026125 filed in South Korea on 28 Aug. 2001discloses a powder applicator of the type including a powder applicatorincluding a reservoir for powder, a porous membrane tensioned over thereservoir, and storage means for storing a portion of the powder in thevicinity of the membrane.

In the above prior art powder applicator, the storage means are formedby a latex bulb fixed to the reservoir.

The latex bulb has a concave region for storing the powder in thevicinity of the porous membrane and a passage allowing the powder tomigrate from said reservoir toward said concave region.

Although the above prior art powder applicator applies a cosmetic powdercorrectly to the skin, it has the main disadvantage of being very costlyto manufacture, in particular because it is necessary to use a latexbulb.

An object of the present invention is to provide a powder applicator ofthe type mentioned above that is significantly less costly than theprior art powder applicator.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The above object of the invention is achieved by a powder applicatorincluding a reservoir for powder, a porous membrane tensioned over thereservoir, and storage means for storing a portion of the powder in thevicinity of the membrane, communicating with the reservoir and includinga very open synthetic foam pad between the reservoir and the membrane.

Thanks to these features, the prior art bulb can be replaced by a simplesynthetic foam pad that communicates with the reservoir and issignificantly less costly than the prior art bulb.

Moreover, and this is important, powder can be stored inside the padbecause the synthetic foam forming the pad has a very open structure.

This improves the efficacy of the powder applicator relative to the useof a latex bulb, which is too dense to soak up the powder.

According to other optional features of the powder applicator accordingto the invention:

the powder applicator includes a first grid between the reservoir andthe pad and fastened to the reservoir,

the first grid is domed and its concave side faces the reservoir,

the powder applicator includes a second grid mounted to rotate relativeto the first grid between a service position in which orifices of thegrids face each other and a storage position in which the orifices areoffset relative to each other,

the second grid is domed and espouses the shape of the first grid,

the orifices of at least one of the grids have a section that diminishesin the direction from the reservoir toward the pad,

the powder applicator includes a ring with an inside edge adapted toclamp the periphery of the membrane against one of the grids,

the powder applicator includes a ring with an inside edge adapted toclamp the periphery of the membrane against the pad,

the membrane has a portion covering the edge of the face of the pad thatfaces the reservoir,

the pad has a groove receiving the inside edge of the ring,

the ring is conformed to conceal the connection region between themembrane and the reservoir,

the peripheral face of the pad is at least partly covered by an envelopemade of a synthetic foam that is harder than the foam forming the pad,

the envelope has a groove receiving the interior edge of the ring,

the envelope is interrupted at the groove,

the envelope is set back relative to the face of the pad that is againstthe membrane,

the pad is machined to a mushroom shape,

the envelope is conformed to espouse the mushroom shape of the pad,

an exterior wall of the membrane is flocked,

the membrane has pores with an average diameter of the order of 0.1 mmdistributed at the rate of approximately 130 pores per centimeter,

the pad has pores with an average diameter of the order of 2 mmdistributed at the rate of approximately eight pores per centimeter.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent on reading the following description and examining the appendeddrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a first embodiment of a powderapplicator according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a view of said powder applicator in axial section.

FIGS. 3 to 13 are views in axial section of other variants of a powderapplicator according to the invention (partial views in the case ofFIGS. 7 to 13).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In the above figures, the same reference numbers designate identical orsimilar items or groups of items.

FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of a powder applicator according to theinvention that includes mainly a powder reservoir 1, a lid 7, a selector2, a synthetic foam pad 3, a porous membrane 4, a ring 5 and aprotective cap 6.

The powder reservoir 1 can be substantially cylindrical with a shouldere1.

The lid 7 includes a reservoir grid 9 with a plurality of orifices 11and is conformed to define two more shoulders e2 and e3.

The lid 7 preferably has a small annular bead 13 at its periphery and inthe region of the shoulder e3.

The lid 7 is connected to the reservoir 1 by any appropriate means suchas gluing, clipping, etc.

The selector 2 has a skirt 15 adapted to nest over the shoulder e3 onthe lid 7.

On top of the skirt 15 is a substantially annular wall 17 extendingaround a selection grid 19 with a plurality of orifices 21. The annularwall 17 and the selection grid 19 define a housing 23.

The pad 3 is preferably substantially cylindrical so that it can beplaced in the housing 23 of the selector 2.

The synthetic foam forming the pad 3 is very open, i.e. it compriseslarge-diameter pores communicating freely with each other.

For example, said pores can have an average diameter of the order of 2mm and there can be approximately eight pores per centimeter.

The membrane 4 is substantially disk-shaped with a diametersignificantly larger than that of the housing 23 formed in the selector2.

The membrane 4 can also be formed of a synthetic foam, but a foam muchless open than the foam forming the pad 3.

For example, the pores of the membrane 4 can have an average diameter ofthe order of 0.1 mm and there can be approximately 130 pores percentimeter.

The exterior wall 25 of the membrane 4 is preferably flocked, i.e.covered with very fine nylon fibers making it softer to the touch.

The inside diameter of the ring 5 is slightly larger than the outsidediameter of the skirt 15 of the selector 2.

Moreover, the upper portion of the ring 5 includes a rim 26 extendingtoward the interior of the ring and having an inside diameter slightlylarger than the outside diameter of the annular wall 17 of the selector2.

The ring 5 is adapted to nest over the shoulder e2 defined by the lid 7.

The protective cap 6, which can be transparent, is adapted to nest overthe shoulder e1 on the reservoir 1.

The powder reservoir 1, the selector 2, the ring 5 and the protectivecap 6 can be molded from plastics materials.

FIG. 2 shows how the items described hereinabove cooperate with eachother.

The skirt 15 of the selector 2 has on its inside face a groove 27cooperating with the small bead 13, thereby enabling the selector 2 tobe clipped onto the lid 7 but also enabling these two components torotate relative to each other.

FIG. 2 shows the powder applicator in a service configuration, i.e. withthe orifices 21 in the selection grid 19 of the selector 2 aligned withthe orifices 11 in the reservoir grid 9.

In this configuration, said orifices therefore form passages enablingthe powder 29 to migrate from the reservoir 1 toward the compartment 23of the selector 2.

The powder applicator according to the invention has anotherconfiguration known as the storage configuration, not shown, in whichthe orifices 11 and 21 are offset from each other by pivoting theselector 2 relative to the lid 7.

Migration of the powder 29 from the reservoir 1 toward the compartment23 is prevented in the storage configuration.

The pad 3 is disposed inside the compartment 23 and occupiessubstantially all of its volume.

The membrane 4 is tensioned over the selector 2 and held in place on theselector 2 by the ring 5, whose interior profile corresponds, apart froma slight clearance, to the exterior profile of the selector 2.

It will be noted that the orifices 11 and possibly the orifices 21preferably have a section that reduces in size from the reservoir 1toward the compartment 23.

The operation and the advantages of the powder applicator according tothe invention follow directly from the foregoing description.

When the powder 29 in the reservoir 1 is to be applied to the skin, thepowder applicator is set to the service configuration shown in FIG. 2.

The powder applicator is then tipped slightly to cause some of thepowder 29 to migrate into the pad 3 through the passages defined by theorifices 11 and 21.

Because the synthetic foam forming the pad 3 has a very open structure,a large quantity of powder can be stored in the pad.

The porous membrane 25 can be applied to the skin and tapped gently tocause powder to exit the pad 3 and to migrate through the membrane 4onto the skin.

When the user has finished with the powder applicator according to theinvention, it is set to its storage configuration.

To this end, the selector 2 is pivoted relative to the lid 7 so that theorifices 11 and 21 are offset from each other, thereby preventing thepowder 29 leaving the reservoir 1.

As is clear from the foregoing description, the structure defined by thepassages 11, 21 and the pad 3 makes it possible to dispense with theprior art bulb whilst providing an improved powder storage capacity inthe immediate vicinity of the membrane 4.

The material of the pad 3 being significantly less costly than thatforming the prior art bulb, the powder applicator according to theinvention can be manufactured at very low cost.

It will be noted that, being distributed over the whole of the surfaceof the selection grid 19 of the selector 2 and of the reservoir grid 9of the lid 7, the passages 11, 21 distribute the powder homogeneously inthe pad 3, so making the powder applicator according to the inventionmore efficient and more comfortable to use.

One of the diverse advantages of the powder applicator according to theinvention is that the method of fixing the membrane 4 to the selector 2,i.e. wedging it by means of the ring 5, enables the use of a membraneformed in one piece, unlike the membrane of the prior art powderapplicator, which had to be designed to cover the bulb, whichnecessarily implied that the membrane had to be formed of two partswelded together.

As a result of this, the exterior face of the porous membrane carried aweld line that seriously compromised the general aesthetics of thepowder applicator.

Note that because the membrane 4 is tensioned, the pad 3 assumes aflared shape, as shown in FIG. 2, i.e. a shape that projects from thewall 17 of the selector 2, thus improving the aesthetics of the powderapplicator.

Note also that, because of this flared shape, the pad 3 can cover theupper edge of the wall 17 and at least a portion of the ring 5, whichprevents the hard portions of the powder applicator discomforting theuser.

Note further that the pad 3 could have dimensions slightly greater thanthose of the housing 23 before being inserted therein, so that it has tobe compressed slightly to place it in the housing and, once fitted,tends to project from the housing.

Note also that because the ring 5 is adapted to nest over the shouldere2, it can therefore conceal the region connecting the membrane 4 withthe selector 2 and the selector with the lid 7, thereby furtherenhancing the finish of the powder applicator.

Note also that the densities and the dimensions of the pores of thematerials forming the pad 3 and the membrane 4 can be adapted as afunction of the nature of the powder 29 to be applied to the skin, inparticular its particle size range.

Similarly, the relative thickness of the pad and the membrane can bemodified.

Note that the protective cap 6 is aligned with the exterior wall of thereservoir 1 when it is in place on the shoulder e1, which contributes toimproving the aesthetics of the powder applicator.

Note further that the presence of the selector 2, although preferred, isin fact optional.

In a more economical embodiment of the powder applicator according tothe invention shown in FIG. 3, the selector 2 is dispensed with and thepad 3 is placed directly on the reservoir grid 9 and the membrane 4 isfixed directly to the lid 7.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the reservoir grid 9 is domed and itsconcave side faces toward the reservoir 1.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the reservoir grid 9 and selectiongrid 19 are both domed and their shapes espouse each other.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the reservoir grid 9 is flat and thepad 3 has a groove 31 at its periphery in which the inside edge 26 ofthe ring 5 engages.

As a result, the membrane 4 is held wedged against the bottom of thegroove 31 by the inside edge 26.

This is a very simple way to immobilize the pad 3 and the membrane 4.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 7 differs from the preceding one in thatthe reservoir grid 9 is domed.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 8, the reservoir grid 9 is domed and thefoam pad 3 is covered by an envelope 33 made of a synthetic foam that isharder than the foam forming the pad, so as to confer some stiffness onthe combination of the pad 3, the envelope 33 and the membrane 4.

The pad 3 and the membrane 4 are held by the pressure exerted by theinside edge 26 of the ring 5.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 9 differs from the preceding one in thatthere is no grid between the pad 3 and the reservoir 1 and the syntheticfoam envelope 33 has a groove 31 at its periphery in which the insideedge 26 of the ring 5 engages.

Thus the membrane 4 is held wedged into the bottom of the groove 31 bythe inside edge 26.

Note further that in the embodiment shown in FIG. 9 the membrane 4 has aportion 4 a that covers the edge of the face of the pad 3 that faces thereservoir 1.

The membrane 4 therefore envelops practically all of the pad 3, with theresult that the membrane and the pad form a compact assembly whosefitting is greatly simplified.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 10 differs from the preceding one in thatthe synthetic foam envelope 33 is divided into two portions 33 a and 33b defining a groove 31 in which the inside edge 26 of the ring 5engages.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 11 differs from the preceding one in thatthe synthetic foam envelope 33 has only an upper portion 33 a, situatedabove the inside edge 26 of the ring 5.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 12 differs from the embodiment shown inFIG. 8 in that the pad 3 is machined so that it has substantially theshape of a mushroom, the synthetic foam envelope 33 being set backrelative to the face of the pad 3 that is in contact with the membrane4.

This prevents the synthetic foam envelope 33 coming into contact withthe skin of the user.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 13 differs from the preceding one in thatthe synthetic foam envelope 33 extends to the height of the face of thepad 3 that is in contact with the membrane 4.

In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 6 to 13, having the membrane 4 formedof two portions welded together can be envisaged, the weld line thenbeing disposed so that it can be hidden by the ring 5 and by its insideedge 26.

Of course, the present invention is not limited to the embodimentsdescribed and shown, which are provided by way of illustrative andnonlimiting example.

Thus other embodiments can be envisaged that combine the features of theembodiments described hereinabove.

For example, eliminating the reservoir grid 9 in the embodiments shownin FIGS. 12 and 13 or using a membrane like that from FIG. 9 (i.e.having a portion 4 a) in the embodiments shown in FIGS. 4 to 8 and 10 to13 could be envisaged.

1. A powder applicator including: a reservoir for powder, a porousmembrane tensioned over said reservoir, a storage section that stores aportion of said powder in the vicinity of said membrane, communicatingwith said reservoir, said storage section including a very opensynthetic foam pad between said reservoir and said membrane, and a firstgrid having a plurality of orifices and disposed between said reservoirand said pad, wherein: said porous membrane is formed of a syntheticfoam which is much less open than the foam forming said pad.
 2. Thepowder applicator claimed in claim 1 wherein said first grid is domedand its concave side faces said reservoir.
 3. The powder applicatorclaimed in claim 1 including a second grid mounted to rotate relative tosaid first grid between a service position in which orifices of saidgrids face each other and a storage position in which said orifices areoffset relative to each other.
 4. The powder applicator claimed in claim3 wherein said first grid is domed and its concave side faces saidreservoir and said second grid is domed and espouses the shape of saidfirst grid.
 5. The powder applicator claimed in claim 3 wherein saidorifices of at least one of said grids have a section that diminishes inthe direction from said reservoir toward said pad.
 6. The powderapplicator claimed in claim 3 including a ring with an inside edgeadapted to clamp the periphery of said membrane against one of saidgrids.
 7. The powder applicator claimed in claim 1 including a ring withan inside edge adapted to clamp the periphery of said membrane againstsaid pad.
 8. The powder applicator claimed in claim 7 wherein saidmembrane has a portion covering the edge of the face of said pad thatfaces said reservoir.
 9. The powder applicator claimed in claim 7wherein said pad has a groove receiving said inside edge of said ring.10. The powder applicator claimed in claim 6 wherein said ring isconformed to conceal the connection region between said membrane andsaid reservoir.
 11. The powder applicator claimed in claim 1 wherein theperipheral face of said pad is at least partly covered by an envelopemade of a synthetic foam that is harder than the foam forming said pad.12. The powder applicator claimed in claim 7, wherein: the peripheralface of said pad is at least partly covered by an envelope made of asynthetic foam that is harder than the foam forming said pad, and saidenvelope has a groove receiving the interior edge of said ring.
 13. Thepowder applicator claimed in claim 9 wherein: the peripheral face ofsaid pad is at least partly covered by an envelope made of a syntheticfoam that is harder than the foam forming said pad, and said envelope isinterrupted at said groove.
 14. The powder applicator claimed in claim11 wherein said envelope is set back relative to the face of said padthat is against said membrane.
 15. The powder applicator claimed inclaim 1 wherein said pad is machined to a mushroom shape.
 16. The powderapplicator claimed in claim 15 wherein: the peripheral face of said padis at least partly covered by an envelope made of a synthetic foam thatis harder than the foam forming said pad, and said envelope is conformedto espouse said mushroom shape of said pad.
 17. The powder applicatorclaimed in claim 1 wherein an exterior wall of said membrane is flocked.18. The powder applicator claimed in claim 1 wherein said membrane haspores with an average diameter of the order of 0.1 mm distributed at therate of approximately 130 pores per centimeter.
 19. The powderapplicator claimed in claim 1 wherein said pad has pores with an averagediameter of the order of 2 mm distributed at the rate of approximatelyeight pores per centimeter.
 20. The powder applicator claimed in claim 1including a ring with an inside edge adapted to clamp the periphery ofsaid membrane against said pad and wherein said envelope has a groovereceiving the interior edge of said ring.
 21. The powder applicatorclaimed in claim 11 wherein said pad has a groove receiving said insideedge of said ring and said envelope is interrupted at said groove. 22.The powder applicator of claim 11 wherein the first grid comprises aplurality of orifices.